Joseph Smith (1805-1844)

Joseph Smith, Jr. was the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was born in Sharon, VT and later moved to New York. He claimed that God the Father and Jesus Christ came to him as a 14-year-old boy in 1820, telling him how all the churches were wrong and their teachers corrupt. This is called the First Vision. In 1824, Smith claimed that the angel Moroni visited him and led him to gold plates that described an ancient Jewish civilization in the Americas. He claimed that he translated these and today it’s a Mormon scripture called the Book of Mormon. Smith’s first wife was Emma, though he ended up marrying more than 30 additional women, including teenagers and other men’s wives. (See information below.) Smith died in a gun battle at the Carthage Jail in June 1844. Joseph Smith said he translated a number of ancient writings besides the Book of Momron, including the Bible (Inspired Version), the Doctrine and Covenants, and books in the Pearl of Great Price. While he is not worshipped by Latter-day Saints, Mormons revere his legacy, even memorizing the words he wrote as scripture and studying his history. Smith is buried in Nauvoo, Illinois with his wife Emma and his brother Hyrum.

Joseph Smith’s Vision Accounts (1:00): Doris Hanson (What Love is This?) interviews Bill McKeever about the different versions that are given regarding the LDS founder’s vision of God the Father and Jesus. Aired on May 12 and 19, 2011. Part 1 Part 2